The Bishop and Beijing

Updated Oct. 5, 2000 12:10 a.m. ET

B ad habits are hard to break, but Beijing seems intent on intensifying its worst traits. It has stepped up its attack on the Roman Catholic Church in China since Pope John Paul II canonized 120 Chinese martyrs on Sunday. Now it has emerged that China is even throwing its anti-religious weight around in Hong Kong.

According to Bishop Joseph Zen, deputy ecclesiastical head of the Catholic Diocese of Hong Kong, Beijing's Liaison Office in the territory warned him to celebrate the canonizations in a "low-key"...